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FIJI MILITARY COMMANDER WARNS GOVERNMENT

Submitted by admin on Mon, 01/09/2006 - 00:00

SUVA. Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 9) – If the Fiji government keeps up its racial policies, the military would not hesitate to move in and take over the running of the country, says army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

The commander issued the warning last night, saying the Government was not giving the military the respect it deserved.

He made the comment after the acting Foreign Affairs Minister Pita Nacuva said the recent verbal war between the Home Affairs ministry and the Military was only a petty issue.

"To the government, the military says this is no petty issue. You have the choice to make it right for the nation," he said.

Mr Nacuva was not available for comments last night.

Commodore Bainimarama said the deaths of soldiers in 2000 have yet to be avenged and the dark days of 2000 have yet to be erased because the Government had continued to adopt racist policies and programs to justify its existence to the indigenous community.

"Policies created to influence the community at large to support the cause of the opportunists. Policies that are hurting the general populace and are so divisive that they have ended up taking away our rights and freedom," Commodore Bainimarama said. "If they lack the moral strength and the courage to continue the good fight the military is willing to return and complete for this nation the responsibilities we gave this government in 2000 and 2001."

He said the treatment dished out by the Home Affairs Minister Josefa Vosanibola and his chief executive officer Doctor Lesi Korovavala was an extension of the Government's wishes to intimidate the military.

"They are of the impression that running to the President will solve all issues. They have their heads continuously buried in the sand in the hope that they do not have to answer to any of their wrongdoings which smacks highly of a bullying government, lacking in character," the commander said.

The commander said the Government would be very naive to underestimate him and the military would not retreat on its part because it could mean the continued abuse of leadership and governance in the country.

"The military gave investor confidence back to the country and tourism will continue however the rot must stop."

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.